Symbols, metaphors and similes in literature- A case study of "Animal Farm"

Journal of English and Literature Vol. 2(2), pp. 19-27, February 2011
Available online http://www.academicjournals.org/ijel
ISSN 2141-2626 ©2011 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Symbols, metaphors and similes in literature: A case
study of "Animal Farm"

Elaheh Fadaee

Islamic Azad University of Bandar Abbas, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 0511 881 83 44.

Accepted 6 December, 2010.

One of the aims of literary text is to say as much as possible as briefly as possible, means to say
more in few words to achieve a maximum effectiveness. In this case, figures of speech,
specifically symbol, metaphor and simile have an important role, as they include figurative
meaning of words besides their literary meaning. In this article, symbols, metaphors and similes
in George Orwell's ‘Animal Farm’ were studied to find out the effect of using figures of speech on
the writer's style and the addressee's understanding. For this aim, these three figures of speech
were founded in the novel and their types were determined according to Newmark`s (1988b),
Fromilhague`s (1995) and Rokni `s (2009) classifications, respectively.
Key words: Literature, symbol, metaphor, simile, figurative language, ‘Animal Farm’.

INTRODUCTION brave and elephant the symbol of heaviness and
Figures of speech are imaginative tools in both greatness in literature.
literature and ordinary communications used for
explaining speech beyond its usual usage. The Collins Another feature of figurative language is the imagery
English Dictionary (2006) defined figure of speech as and metaphorical concept which FL has. For instance,
"an expression such as a simile, in which words do not 1. FL: The sea froth is like a pearl on the shore's neck
have their literal meaning, but are categorized as (simile).
multi-word expressions that act in the text as units" 2. Non FL: The sea froth comes towards the shore
(Alhasnawi, 2007: 3). (ordinary sentence).
3. The pearl is the symbol of luminosity and whiteness
The language that uses figures of speech is called in literature.
'figurative language' and "its purpose is to serve three Western Rhetoricians consider two categories of
elements of clarity, forth and beauty in the language" figures of speech; one is scheme, ‘meaning form’,
(Tajali, 2003: 100). However, as any figure of speech which changes the ordinary pattern of words, like
has a figurative meaning, it may cause ambiguity hyperbole, apostrophe, ellipsis, and antithesis. The
which influences the clarity. phrase 'John, my best friend' is a scheme using
'apposition'.
Figurative language has some specific features
which make it different from nonfigurative language. The other is trope, literally meaning ‘to turn’, that
For instance, metaphor and simile usually include an changes the general meaning of words, like simile,
exaggeration in their comparison as below: metaphor, irony, allegory, satire, symbol, paradox.
1. FL: John is a lion (metaphor). The trope 'she is as beautiful as rose' is an instance of
2. Non FL: That animal is a lion (ordinary sentence). simile.
3. FL: The book is as heavy as an elephant (simile).
4. Non FL: The box is as heavy as my suitcase There are numerous classifications of figures of
(ordinary sentence). speech, as some rhetoricians have classified them

Also, we can say lion is the symbol of courage and

20 Int. J. English Lit.

into as many as 250 separate figures. Symbol, is the one who has been thrown into the water.
metaphor and simile are the most important figures of Desert: It is the symbol of freedom of soul and being
speech in almost all languages. Richards (1965: 105) naked. For this reason, God selected plain/desert of
said, "the two most common figures of speech are judgment for considering human deeds (Gostaniong,
metaphor and simile, but there are many other less 1377: 10).
common ones, like symbol". Fire: It is a symbol of purity and always great
prophets, as Zoroaster, Buddha and Moses praised it.
THEORETICAL SIGHT Symbols are dealt within different domains of human's
Symbol life. It forms the basis of literature and has a direct
The word symbol is derived from "'symballein, relation with poetry. Symbols are used more in epic
meaning ‘to throw together’, from the Greek poems, allegorical poems and gnostic poems.
‘symbolon’ and Latin ‘symbolum’, which meant token,
sign" (Webster, 2003: 1190). Shamisa (2004) classifies symbols into two types:
Arbitrary symbols and personal symbols. Arbitrary
Although the school of symbolism appeared in symbols are those common and familiar ones that the
France in 1880, but one thousand year before reader simply can recognize their meanings, like
appearing this school, people used symbols for spring that is a symbol of youth and freshness.
expressing their feelings and thoughts about Personal symbols are those fresh and new ones
phenomena, life and death. "The founders of school of which the writer or the poet newly created, and
symbolism were three great poets, Stephan Mallarme, contrary to arbitrary symbols, their recognition is
Poul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud, who used symbols difficult for the reader, like Lion which is the symbol of
for expressing their thoughts" (Farshidvard, 1373: 4). God in Molana`s poems.

Symbol is defined in the online ‘Encyclopedia Another classification of symbol which is selected
Britannica’ as "a communication element intended to for this article is stated by Rokni (2009):
simply represent or stand for a complex of person, Significative: Arbitrary symbols which are common in
object, group, or idea." It is a kind of figures of speech each particular field of study. For instance, @ is a
used for increasing the beauty of the text and has symbol used in email addresses.
figurative meaning besides its literal meaning. Metaphoric: Significant symbols used for natural
phenomena, like lion which is a symbol of courage.
Shaw (1881: 367) presents the following definition Commemorative: Symbols which add a real event to a
for symbol: "(Symbol is) something used for, or memory.
regarded as, representing something else. More Sacramental: Symbols used in myths and customs.
specifically, a symbol is a word, phrase, or other In studying symbols of a literary text, first we should
expression having a complex of associated meanings; search for the general concept of that symbol, as most
in this sense, a symbol is viewed as having values of them have stable and fixed meaning. Also, we
different from those of whatever is being symbolized . should search for the specific concept of the symbol
. . . Many poets have used the rose as a symbol of arises from the writer's thoughts.
youth and beauty; a flag is a piece of cloth which
stands for or is a symbol of a nation". A reader should be alert for symbolical meanings,
and according to Perrine (1974: 214) she/he should
As Perrine (1974) states, "a literary symbol is observe some cautions:
something that means more than what it is. It is an 1. The story itself must furnish a clue that a detail is to
object, a person, a situation, an action, or some other be taken symbolically. It means that symbolic
item that has a literal meaning in the story, but phenomena can be identified by repetition, emphasis
suggests or represents other meanings as well" (211). or position.
Here are some universal symbols in literature: 2. The meaning of a literary symbol must be
Tree: It is the symbol of growth and the sign of established and supported by the entire context of the
immortality (Gostaniong, 1377: 10). The symbol of story. It means that the meaning of the symbol can be
tree in myths has an important role. For instance, identified inside the text, not outside it.
"forbidden tree" of paradise or Moses talking with his 3. To be called a symbol, an item must suggest a
interlocutor by the use of a tree are of this kind. meaning different in kind from its literal meaning.
Sea: It is the symbol of purity, innocence and 4. A symbol may have more than one meaning.
sacredness of man (Gostaniong, 1377:10). In myths,
most of heroes and prophets in their childhood were Symbol differs from metaphor and simile in that it
overthrown into the sea to become purified and Moses

Fadaee 21

does not contain a comparison, but by virtue of hand, it is like simile, with one of the parts (topic,
association represents something more than itself. For image or sense) being implicit; on the other hand, it is
example, if the cross symbolizes Christianity, its like metonymy, as it takes away the reader from the
symbolic meaning does not arise from a comparison. reality and makes him closer to the figurative world.

Metaphor Metaphors have been categorized in different ways
The word metaphor is derived from the Greek word by different linguists. Aristotle differentiated between
‘Metaphoria’, which meant ‘to carry’. Metaphor is a simple or double metaphors, current or strange
comparison of two different phenomena which share metaphors and common or unused metaphors.
some common points. It is a kind of condensed simile Broeck (1981) presented "two categories of metaphor
that some parts of it, like topic or similarity markers as lexicalized and conventional" (Miremadi, 2003:
are deleted to convey the meaning connotatively. The 173). The first one refers to the lexical entities that
first definition of metaphor is expressed by Aristotle as have lost their individual word semantic specifications
"a shift carrying over a word from its normal use to a and have become a certain language's lexical entity
new one" (Richards, 1965: 89). For instance in the chunks. The second one refers to fixed and common
sentence, 'the customer is king', many qualities a king metaphors in any language that can be easily
has, like influence, importance, power and so on are recognized.
attributed to a customer. In the condensed metaphor
'a ship of state', the captain of the ship represents the Black (1962) asserted that the only classification is
government, the sea represents the flow of time, bad between dead and live metaphors and he offers the
weather indicates a crisis and lack of wind signifies following classification as, dormant metaphor, when
economic stagnation. the meaning of a metaphor becomes unclear because
the sentence has been shortened; active metaphor, is
In literary translation, metaphor is primarily new-born and fresh metaphor; strong metaphor, which
considered a figurative expression by which a word or has high emphasis; and weak metaphor which has
phrase is altered from its literal reference to a new and low emphasis.
often wide field of reference.
Considering different categories of metaphor in
In this case, Shaw (1972) defined metaphor as English, it is observed that Newmark`s classification is
follow: more comprehensive than others. So it is selected as
the basis of analysis in this study.
“A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is
applied to a person, idea or object to which it is not On the basis of the two main categories of metaphor
literally applicable. A metaphor is an implied suggested by Black (1962) as dead and live
analogy which imaginatively identifies one thing metaphors, Newmark (1988b) offered five kinds of
with another. A metaphor is one of the topes, a metaphors: As dead, cliché, stock, recent and original.
device by which an author turns, or twists, the The first three, he considers dead and the last two live
meaning of a word. (Moeinzadeh, 2006:10)”. metaphors.
Newmark (1988b) defined metaphor as:
“Any figurative expression: The transferred sense Dead metaphor
of a physical word; the personification of an It is the metaphor that loses its figurative and
abstraction; the application of a word or collocation connotative meanings and is used like ordinary words;
to what it does not literally denote. Metaphors may the image can not be recognized by the speaker or
be 'single' (one-word) or 'extended' (a collocation, listener. This category includes "concepts of space
an idiom, a sentence, a proverb, an allegory, a and time, the main parts of the body, general
complete imaginative text” (p. 104). ecological features and the main human activities"
Newmark (1988a) stated that the main purpose of (Tajali, 2003: 108). Dead metaphor has three kinds.
metaphor is to describe an entity, event or quality The first group is those which have a little
more comprehensively and concisely and in a more metaphorical imagery. For instance, the word 'reflect'
complex way than is possible by using literal language has a referential meaning of 'shining' and also, has a
Metaphor is more imaginative and artistic than secondary meaning of 'superiority'. The second group
simile, as it makes language more powerful and takes is metonymies which come instead of objects and
the reader toward the emotional thoughts. On the one things, like, 'crown, worm, and fork'. This group is
more used in technical texts. The third group is non
technical words like 'mouth and foot' used
metaphorically when combined with other words. Like,
'the arm of the chair', 'an arm of the heat' and 'a matter
of life and death'.

22 Int. J. English Lit.

Cliché metaphor In English, for this comparison some similarity
Like dead metaphor, this kind of metaphor is overused markers such as, "like", "as". Mr. Smith is as
so much that can not convey any figurative meaning changeable as a weathercock. He eats like a hoarse.
and "is used as a substitute for clear thought, often In literary texts, simile is used with metaphors to
emotively, but without corresponding to the facts of enhance the effect and beauty of the text. As
the matter" (Newmark, 1988b: 107). It is said that metaphor is a covert comparison, simile is an overt
contrary to dead and stock metaphors, cliché one which explicitly and precisely explains the object
metaphors have an indication that tell the reader the and it is the first and simplest method for conveying
word or expression is not an ordinary one. Like, the beauty of message which is used in poetry, prose
'explore all avenues', 'stick out a smile' and 'a and also usual conversations. Even children talking
transparent lie'. about their desires, use simile as a means of
comparison.
Stock metaphor
This is the one which deals with cultural elements and Simile is much less investigated than metaphor,
is conventional in each language. Newmark (1988b: although it occurs as frequently in discourse. "Like
108) said "a stock metaphor has certain emotional metaphor, it is a semantic figure, a mental process
warmth-and which is not deadened by overuse": Her playing a central role in the way we think and talk
life hangs on a thread, laugh in someone face, she about the world, which often associates different
sees fear in my heart. spheres" (Bredin, 1998: 68). It can have an affirmative
or a negative form: the affirmative form asserts
Recent metaphor likeness between the entities compared, as 'the sun is
This is a live metaphor, produced by coining or as like an orange' and the negative one denies likeness,
Newmark (1988b: 111) called "they are neologisms as 'the sun is not like an orange'.
fashionable in the source language community". This
kind is specific to each language and includes more According to Fromilhague (1995), Similes has
colloquial and informal words. 'Skint', 'Park your various functions: First, they serve to communicate
carcass' and 'Groovy' are examples of this kind. concisely and efficiently: They are one of a set of
linguistic devices which extend the linguistic resources
Original metaphor available. Secondly, they can function as cognitive
It is another kind of live metaphor arising from writer or tools for thought in that they enable us to think of the
speaker's personal and creative thoughts and world in novel, alternative ways. In discourse, they can
ideologies, so it is not fixed in the language and is also fulfill more specific functions depending on the
more new and fresh. Examples are 'In this house', 'I textual genre in which they occur. In scientific texts,
am close to the wet loneliness of grass', and ‘I hear comparison and analogical reasoning play an
the sound of gardens breathing ‘and’ a forest of important role (pp. 88-94).
fingers.
Simile also differs from analogy, intended in its
Simile narrower sense, as former involves two entities, while
The word simile is derived from the Latin word ‘Simile’, the latter involves four. Unlike metaphors, similes
meaning ‘resemblance and likenesses’, technically it require individuation of both source and target
means the comparison of two objects with some concepts, and an evaluation of what they have in
similarities. Shamisa (1383) has said simile is the common, but unlike literal comparisons, they are
claim of likeness of two things in one or two attributes figurative, comparing things normally felt to be
"Simile is fundamentally a figure of speech requiring incomparable, typically using vivid or startling images
overt reference to source and target entities, and an to suggest unexpected connections between source
explicit construction connecting them" (Gibbs, 1994: and target.
40).
Similes have different types and classifications, too.
Bredin (1998) remarked about a scale going from the
most stereotyped to the most creative similes. At one
extreme are situated the conventionalized and fixed
similes, and at the other extreme are the creative
similes. Between the two extremes, standard
(ordinary) and original (fresh, but not totally
unexpected) similes can be settled.

Ortony (1993) offered a semantic distinction
between literal and non-literal similes. In non-literal
similes, topic and vehicle are not symmetrical and the
similarity markers can be dropped, but in literal
similes, the terms can be reversed and the similarity

Fadaee 23

markers can not be dropped. 4. Moses, tame raven: Manifestation of Orthodox
Another classification by Fromilhague (1995) has Church, and later Catholic Church.
5. The sheep: Means of propaganda and slogan.
offered a distinction between objective similes, 6. Snowball, young boar: Manifestation of Trotsky's
originating from concrete physical experience, and white hair and beard.
subjective similes, stemming from individual 7. Napoleon, young boar: Manifestation of Stalin. He
association mechanisms. has a profound knowledge in oratory, and can control
all works and has the last word.
He also explains explicit and implicit similes which 8. Pilkington, owner of Foxwood: Manifestation of
are the basis of this article. In explicit simile, sense or 'Winston Churchill' who defrauds others.
point of similarity is stated directly. Most of the 9. Fredrick, owner of Pinchfield: Manifestation of
sentences with 'as…as' structures are of this kind: 'as 'Great Fredrick' who is the father of Prussian military
light as feather', 'as hot as fire'. government.
10. Whymper: Manifestation of vampire, pigs`
Implicit simile, however, is the one whose sense is procures.
not stated directly and leave the onus of interpretation Some of the paradigms are stated below with their
to the reader. Most words with 'like' are of this types: manifestations in ‘Animal Farm’:
'eat like a bird: Eat very little', 'live like a pig: Live very 1. ‘Animal Farm’, chapter 1: (…Broad-minded
untidily', 'swim like a fish: Swim very well'. characters of ‘Animal Farm’ are Major, Napoleon,
Snowball and Squealer….): Before the revolution,
PRACTICAL SIGHT broad-minded figures, such as journalists, educators,
The first of Orwell's greatest cries of despair was and clergies leave off supporting regime and want to
‘Animal Farm’, his satirical beast fable, often heralded have some basic reformations.
as his lightest, pleasurable work. It depicts the 2. ‘Animal Farm’, chapter 2: (…Animal Farm revolution
Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalin and each was achieved much earlier and more easily than
animal character in the book is a symbol for a key anyone had expected. On Mid summer's Eve, which
character in the Russian revolution. Animalism, was a Saturday, Mr. Jones went into Willingdon and
Communism, and Fascism are all illusions which are got so that he did not come back till midday on
used by the pigs as a means of satisfying their greed Sunday. When Mr. Jones got back he immediately
and lust for power. In 1920 and 1930, some went to sleep on the drawing-room sofa with the News
sociologists and politicians studied important western of the World over his face...) (…And so, almost before
Revolutions, as Britain Revolution in 1640, American animals knew what was happening, the Rebellion had
Revolution in 1776, France Revolution in 1789 and been successfully carried through: Jones was
Russian Revolution in 1917. They found some expelled, and the Manor Farm was theirs): Falling of
common paradigms in all these revolutions which regime begin with political crisis as the result of
based on them Orwell has written his book, ‘Animal government's inability for solving political, economical
Farm’. and military problems.
3. Animal Farm, chapter 5: (…After this short joyful
Names, paradigms, objects and event symbolism period, disputes between animals appeared.
One of the most important symbols is name Napoleon is an extremist and Snowball is a moderate
symbolism. When the author in her/his story chooses who wants to do some reformations in the farm by
a name for her/his character, she/he wants to label it building a windmill, but Napoleon disagrees with him.
and also to suggest something.! Here, some The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of
characters` names of ‘Animal Farm’ (2005), chapter 1, the windmill. The animals formed themselves into two
with their symbolic meanings are stated. Also, direct factions under the slogan, "Vote for Snowball and the
references to the text of the story are stated in the: three-day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full
1. Major, white pig: Manifestation of Marx and Lenin, manger...): After the falling of regime, revolutionists
has the military and arbitrary character. found some internal disputes among themselves
2. Boxer, cart horse: Manifestation of faithful which resulted in the scattering of revolutionists` unity.
proletarian who is ignorant and deprived of vision. He Therefore, they divide into two groups, moderate and
is the symbol of Chinese revolutionists who sent out extreme parties. The first want rapid changes and the
foreign colonizers and they themselves were second want moderate changes. So, these differences
annihilated. resulted in codetta or civil war.
3. Mollie, white mare: Manifestation of White Russia. 4. ‘Animal Farm’, chapter 5: (…Within a few weeks,
Her pride and luxury is like general supreme of
October Revolution.

24 Int. J. English Lit.

Snowball's plans for the windmill were fully worked 7. Animal Farm, chapter 8: (…All orders were now
out….): Moderate parties are the first ones who give issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs.
the control of government. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as
5. Animal Farm, chapter 5: (…At last the day came once in a fortnight. When he did appear, he was
when Snowball's plans were completed. At the attended not only by his retinue of dogs but by a black
Meeting on the following Sunday, the question of cockerel that marched in front of him and acted as a
whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be kind of trumpeter, letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-
put to the vote….) (…At this, there was a terrible doo" before Napoleon spoke) (Napoleon was now
baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs came never spoken of simply as "Napoleon." He was always
bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for referred to in formal style as "our Leader, Comrade
Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time Napoleon," and the pigs liked to invent for him such
to escape their snapping jaws….) (…At first, no one titles as Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind,
had been able to imagine where these creatures came Protector of the Sheep-fold, Ducklings' Friend, and the
from, but the problem was soon solved: They were the like….): Disputes between these two groups let
puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their unknown people became the leader of the society.
mothers and reared privately. Though not yet full- Here, the objects and events are presented:
grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as 1. Animal Farm, chapter 1: (…Man is the only creature
wolves. They kept close to Napoleon. It was noticed that consumes without producing. Our labor tills the
that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as soil, our dung fertilizes it, and yet there is not one of
the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones.): us that own more than his bare skin…): Men are
While moderate party intends to reconstruct society on capitalists and animals are communists who must
the basis of reformations, extreme party appears in a work hard for the first group.
new form to lay aside moderate party. 2. Animal Farm, chapter 3: (Wild animals and the
6. Animal Farm, chapter 7: (…The four pigs waited, pigs): Mojiks and Belshoyks.
trembling, with guilt written on every line of their 3. Animal Farm, chapter 2: (Revolution in the farm):
countenances. Napoleon now called upon them to Russian revolution.
confess their crimes. They were the same four pigs as 4. Animal Farm, chapter 1: (Comrades): Marx's
had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday expression.
Meetings. Without any further prompting, they 5. Animal Farm, chapter 8: (Hoof and horn on green
confessed that they had been secretly in touch with flag): Sickle and hammer.
Snowball. When they had finished their confession, 6. Animal Farm, chapter 9: (Spontaneous
the dogs promptly tore their throats out, and in a demonstrations): Festival of Labor's day.
terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other 7. Animal Farm, chapter 8: (Order of the green
animal had anything to confess.) (…The three hens banner): Lenin's order.
who had been the ringleaders in the attempted 8 Animal Farm, chapter 7: (Hens` rebellion after
rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated dismissing Mr. Jones): Sailors` revolution in the navy
that Snowball had appeared to them in a dream and base of Kronstad in 1921.
incited them to disobey Napoleon's orders. They, too, 9. Animal Farm, chapter 6: (Napoleon's transaction
were slaughtered. Then a goose came forward and with Whymper and Willingdon markets): Rapalo
confessed to having secreted six ears of corn during contract which was signed between Russia and
the last year's harvest and eaten them in the night. Germany in 1922 and Russian's boycott was finished.
Then a sheep confessed to having urinated in the 10. Animal Farm, chapter 2: (When Moses came back
drinking pool, urged to do this, so she said, by and claimed to know about a mysterious country
Snowball and two other sheep confessed to having called "Sugar Candy Mountain): In spring, 1944, Stalin
murdered an old ram, an especially devoted follower tried to compound with the popes of Catholic Church.
of Napoleon, by chasing him round and round a He talks a lot with an America priest; named 'Father
bonfire when he was suffering from a cough. They Orlemansky' to attract priests of Catholic Church from
were all slain on the spot. And so the tale of his policies in Poland, but it did not have any results,
confessions and executions went on, until there was a so Stalin became the laughing-stock of people.
pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air 11. Animal Farm, chapter 4: (Neighboring farms):
was heavy with the smell of blood, which had been Western armed forces which protect Tezzar adherents
unknown there since the expulsion of Jones): against Red army.
Disordering of revolution and government's violent 12. Animal Farm, chapter 3: (Everyone worked
controlling on people caused in compulsory orders. according to his capacity): "Marxist theory says that
This period of revolution includes assassinate and
execution.

Fadaee 25

every one must work according to his capacity and thwart Napoleon's wishes. Their method was to fly up
must receive on the basis of his needs" (Hosseini, the rafters and there laid their eggs, which smashed to
2004: 32). pieces on the floor. Once again it was being put about
13. Animal Farm, chapter 4: (The wave of rebellion that all the animals were dying of famine and disease
which spread around): Wave of revolutions which and that they were continually fighting amongst
penetrate to Poland and Germany in 1919 and 1923 themselves and had resorted to cannibalism and
respectively. infanticide…): Disastrous results of farms sharing by
14. Animal Farm, chapter 10: (The creatures outside Stalin's order in 1929 to 1933. After this command,
looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from Mojiks killed all of their retinues and destructed culture
pig to man again, but already it was impossible to say tools and fired the productions to show their
which was which): Marx theory says, "the labors class objections. Therefore, people died of hunger and the
in doing his duties must not have any feelings except culmination of famine was in 1933 in Ukraine, which
that he is an animal" (Hosseini, 2004: 154). about 3 millions of people died and began to eat each
15. Animal Farm, chapter 3: (Snowball's committees, other.
as egg production committee for hens, the clean Tails 21. Animal Farm, chapter 7: (…Animals remembered
League for the cows, the wild comrade's reduction that at the critical moment of the battle Snowball had
committee, and the whiter wool movement for the turned to flee, but they did not remember that his flee
sheep): Trotsky's activities in "Politbureau", oratory, was an intentional trick to catch the enemy in a
the establishment of reading and writing classes and net….): Blood Refinement Events in 1936 to 1938:
his guidance in unbelievers' committees. Stalin's purpose in this event was to acquire the power
16. Animal Farm, chapter 5: (…As usual, Snowball and to exert indefinite arbitrariness. About the trials, it
and Napoleon were in disagreement. According to is said that they altered the real history with forgings.
Napoleon, what the animals must do was the procure 21. Animal Farm, chapter 7: (…Three hens had come
firearms and train themselves in the use of them. forward and confessed that inspired by Snowball, they
According to Snowball, they must send out more and had entered into a plot to murder Napoleon…): In the
more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the animals trial of Karl Radek (one of Trotsky's friends) in 1937,
on the other farms. one argued that if they could not Trotsky was the one who organized sabotages in
defend themselves, they were bound to be conquered; Russia, in coalmines, factories and railways, and
the other argued that if rebellions happened wanted to poison labors and also to kill Stalin.
everywhere they would have no need to defend 22. Animal Farm, chapter 7: (…The tale of
themselves…): Ideological fights between Stalin and confessions and executions went on, until there was a
Trotsky; Trotsky insisted on industrializing the society pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air
and also the priority of production to agriculture. But was heavy with the smell of blood…): Confessions in
Stalin believed in socialism and advocated the the period of trials and blood refinement which about 9
continual revolution. million were arrested and 3 million died.
17. Animal Farm, chapter 5: (When Snowball's 23. Animal Farm, chapter 8: (…Animals became
speeches finished and Napoleon escaped): The fight surprised when Napoleon had a relation with
between Stalin and Trotsky became severe in 1927. Pilkington and Fredrick, but Napoleon was tricked.
This time, Britain broke off his diplomatic relations with Fredrick's bank-notes were forgeries and he attacked
Russia and Russia ambassador was killed in Poland. the animal farm without any preceding alarming and
Also, Chian kaichek killed Chinese communists who destructed the windmill…): Stalin's politicians with
were associated with him. Trotsky with Stalin's Germany, which Hitler's invasion to Russia put an end
opponents, export a statement based on his defeat to to in 1941. Stalin, after slaughtering and stabilizing his
disarm him, but Stalin anticipated and dismissed power against Hitler tried to propagate democracy.
Trotsky. 23. Animal Farm, chapter 8: (But after fighting with
18. Animal Farm, chapter 4: (Head of the Allies): animals, Fredrick ordered his people to retreat and all
Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt are the manifestations of frightened and escaped): Hitler is defeated in
Napoleon, Pilkington, and Fredrick respectively. Stalingrad war in 1943.
19. Animal Farm, chapter 10: (Napoleon and Mr. 24. Animal Farm, chapter 8: (Fredrick's bank-notes):
Pilkington had each played an ace of spades Contract between Stalin and Hitler based on not
simultaneously): The head of Allies consciously having aggression.
conspire to share the world and jointly ruled the world,
but they did not have any agreement with each other Metaphors and similes instances
and the cold war was beginning. Some examples of metaphor and simile are brought
20. Animal Farm, chapter 7: (…Led by 3 Black
Minorca pullets, the hens made a determined effort to

26 Int. J. English Lit.

Table 1. Classifications of symbols, metaphors and Dogs were as fierce looking as wolves.
similes. Boxer was as strong as any two ordinary horses.
Implicit similes:
Types of symbol f Rf P.Rf (%) He seemed more like three horses than one.
The cruel pellets swept over them like hail.
Significative 0 0 0 Animals worked like slaves.
Metaphoric 60 0.869 86.9 The earth was like iron.
Commemorative 4 0.057 5.79 To put flagstaff like a piece of artillery.
Sacramental 5 0.072 7.2 The work of the farm went like clockwork.
Total
69 RESULTS
Here, in order to find out types of symbols, metaphors
Types of metaphor 5 0.0526 5.26 and similes in George Orwell's ‘Animal Farm’, the data
Dead 50 0.5263 52.63 were settled Table 1 and frequency (f), relative
Cliché 35 0.3684 36.84 frequency (Rf) and percentage of relative frequency
Stock 0 (P.Rf) are calculated for each type. These types are
Recent 5 0 0 on the basis of Newmark`s (1988b), Fromilhague`s
Original 0.0526 5.26 (1995) and Rokni`s (2009) classifications respectively.
Total
95 According to Table 1, it is observed that among four
types of symbols stated by Rokni, metaphoric symbols
Types of simile 5 0.1515 15.15 (86.9%) are used a lot, because they explain events of
Explicit 28 0.8484 84.84 the real revolutions and its subsequent incidents in an
Implicit allegorical way. Among five types of metaphor, as
Total 33 dead, cliché, stock, recent and original, the amount of
cliché metaphors (52.63%) is more than the other
below: four. Cliché metaphors have an indication that tells the
Dead metaphors: reader the word or expression is not an ordinary one.
At the foot of the flagstaff Among two types of simile, explicit and implicit, the
Beyond the orchard later (84.84%) is used more which shows that the
At the foot of the wall writer wants to talk in an implicit way.
Cliché metaphors:
The cruel knife Conclusion
It is not crystal clear? As it is said in the abstract, the aim of this article was
Under cover of night to find out the effect of using figures of speech on the
In the teeth of every difficulty writer's style and the addressee's understanding.
Stock metaphors: Figures of speech are imaginative tools in both
Starvation seemed to stare them in the face. literature and ordinary communications used for
They were struck dumb with surprise. explaining speech beyond its usual usage. The
As surely as I see this straw beneath my feat. acquired result shows that the writer wants to convey
Original metaphors: his message of this novel in an implicit and indirect
Fountain of happiness way, so he has used more types of figures of speech
Golden future which have figurative meaning beyond their literally
With the ring of light meaning. Also, as the result of using these kinds of
Explicit similes: figures of speech, the addressee does not explicitly
The winter was as cold as the last one had been. understand the concept of the story and she/he must
refer to the allegorical dimension of the novel and
discovered its covering concept.

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